Mormon

> Cindywagner

By the 4 verse, the BoM is proven to be a fraud.
Posted by: judyblue ( )Date: February 14, 2014 03:30PM 1 Nephi 1:4 - 4 - For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.

In 605 BCE (five years before the BoM begins), Nebuchadnezzar II invaded Judah. This prompted King Jehoiakim of Jerusalem to switch his allegiances from Egypt to Babylon, to avoid the destruction of Jerusalem. Four years later (just before the time the BoM begins), Nebuchadnezzar's army was defeated when attempting to invade Egypt.
MormonThink.com: An objective look at Mormons / Mormonism / the LDS Church. My Second Anointing Experience on January 21, 2008 - color version - tom-phillips-second-anointing.pdf. Debunking myths about heavenly mother - the latest "we didn't teach that" moment for TSCC. Assessing Cult Control. Social connection first, critical thinking about doctrine (and history) second . . .
Posted by: robertb ( )Date: June 09, 2012 01:00PM if at all.

It's the social support people experience from members of an organization rather than doctrine that is primarily responsible for conversion. Most converts join a group because of association with family or friends who are part of the religion. Acceptance of doctrine is part of becoming a member of the group and part of maintaining allegiance afterward rather than the primary reason for joining. In this kind of scenario critical thinking about the group is secondary; relationships are primary.
Special Report: Mormonism besieged by the modern age. Gender Roles and Sexism in the LDS Church. Look at the list below and ask yourself, would any rational man join a church that.. ...women held all priesthood leadership positions, including Prophet, Apostles, Stake Presidents and Bishops etc... ...God was a woman and any mention of Father in Heaven was forbidden.

Ex-Mormon Scholars Testify - Simon Southerton. I was a member of the LDS church for almost 30 years.

I served a mission in Melbourne (1981-83), was married in the New Zealand Temple in 1983 and served in numerous church positions including four terms as Young Men President, as a counselor in several bishoprics and branch presidencies and finally as a bishop. I resigned from the LDS Church in 1998, while serving as a bishop, after encountering molecular genetics research that convinced me that American Indians are not related to Israelites. This seriously challenged my LDS belief that the Lamanites are among the ancestors of the American Indians.

A look inside as City Creek Center's completion nears. SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Chamber says $5 billion have gone into the revitalization of downtown Salt Lake City, and a major part of that is soon to open in the new City Creek Center.

The project is nearly finished, and H. David Burton — presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the man who has overseen City Creek from the beginning — anticipates the center's Mar. 22 grand opening will be just that: grand.
Finally, my wife listens and opens up. Thank you leaders and members!
Letter from Delbert Stapley to George Romney. Are we the most outspoken because we believed it the most, and it hurt us the most?
Posted by: mre ( )Date: February 21, 2012 01:51AM I am going to say yes.

As a long time lurker and infrequent poster, I am probably one of the less outspoken members here, and having looked at people who I know have left the church personally and on this board I truly think the OP is on to something and that the OP is correct. First, a bit about myself: I always sort of believed in the church.
A short list of the issues that lead me to leave The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (in no particular order)
Problems with the content of the book of mormon - a few examples of things off the top of my head: 1) Nephi hearing voices to chop off Laban's head (murder).

Getting no blood on himself and fooling Zoram to steal the plates. The impossibility of the brass plates even existing at all (the old testament was compiled yet, scholars agree that much of Isiah quoted in 2nd Nephi wasn't written until after 600, bc), no such thing as brass back then, no other copy of those compiled writings in existence anywhere. 2) Jacob would have needed to be approximately 80 years old when Enos was born for the timelines to work.

Article. Did Emanuel Swedenborg Influence LDS Doctrine?

By Craig Miller Born in Sweden in 1688, Emanuel Swedenborg claims that at the age of 57 he was visited by the Savior and commanded to write the inner meaning of the scriptures and to explain life awaiting man after the death of the physical body. He claims to have been a citizen of both the physical and the spiritual world for approximately 27 years, conversing with angels on a daily basis.
Letter to my ex-bishop. To my ex-Bishop, I appreciate your letter.

You say that you’ve been exiled for six years and that you have struggled with a lack of significant service and friendship. I have to wonder based on what you have said, that it seems you only search for social acceptance in a very small arena. Church.
Re: Why I use the term: Tribe as the best way to understand Mormonism. What that means, and why it's hard to leave.
Not everyone takes the same view.

This is mine, and why I think it works well. About the Cult word.All religions are cults. But the word is not a pejorative like it is used here very often. I'm a purist when it comes to words.
The Barefoot Bearded Cornish Pisky. Re: am i the only one?
Posted by: SusieQ#1 ( )Date: December 18, 2011 02:36PM You need a receptive audience if you are going to share info about Mormonism that is not the party line as a believer.

At first, I too wanted to share what I knew. But it was disaster. Now, I have taken a different tactic: I don't think we have any obligation or responsibility to share info with others unless they ask for it.
Joseph Smith's Handwritten 1832 First Vision. (This photo is also in Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, Compiled by Dean Jesse, Deseret Book, 2002, p.17) Joseph Smith's Handwritten 1832 First Vision (click to enlarge) Typescript. Emanuel Swedenborg. Emanuel Swedenborg ( Swedenborg had a prolific career as an inventor and scientist. In 1741, at age 53, he entered into a spiritual phase in which he began to experience dreams and visions, beginning on Easter weekend of April 6, 1744.

This culminated in a 'spiritual awakening', in which he received revelation that he was appointed by the Lord to write the The Heavenly Doctrine to reform Christianity.[7] According to The Heavenly Doctrine the Lord had opened Swedenborg's spiritual eyes, so that from then on he could freely visit heaven and hell and talk with angels, demons and other spirits; and the Last Judgement had already occurred, in 1757.[8] However, he tells us that at this day it is very dangerous to talk with spirits, unless a person is in true faith, and is led by the Lord.[9][10] For the remaining 28 years of his life, Swedenborg wrote 18 published theological works, and several more which were unpublished.

Non-mormon. As They Affect The Church by Mark E. Petersen 1954. Is cult too strong a word to describe Mormonism?
Posted by: Edwood ( )Date: October 16, 2011 10:47PM So when does a religious organization step over the line from being simply a church to a cult? While it may be true that some mainstream churches display some characteristics of a cult: a strong authoritarian streak, subtle (or not so subtle) forms of psychological manipulation etc. a cult will display pretty much all the characteristics.

I believe Mormonism has them all: 1) Reliance on a strong charismatic, authoritarian figure who uses that authority to exploit and take advantage of his or her followers and who cannot be questioned or challenged. Think Joseph Smith and the profits, ultimate authority always rests with them.
LDS Church: Name Removal Instructions from the Mormon Church. Warning: If you live with people who are members (parents, a spouse, siblings or a roommate), they will almost certainly be told about your resignation.

If family members live in the same ward or stake that you do, they will probably hear about your resignation. Getting Started. Information about how Mormonism affects people psychologically.
Draft of my letter to the Bishop, haven't sent it yet. Feedback please.
Seriously?
MormonThink.com: An objective look at Mormons / Mormonism / the LDS Church. Why I Left. Stages of Cult Recovery Applied to Mormonism. The Lost Book of Abraham (full video, low quality)
Liberal Stake. Church Finance – Part IV « Truth Hurts.